When Did Uddhav Thackeray Say Voting for Modi is Like Voting for the Future?

As the Lok Sabha Election 2024 gears up for the second phase, many old videos have resurfaced with misleading claims.

In one such video, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray can be seen endorsing Narendra Modi as Prime Minister. The viral clip suggests that Thackeray, a staunch opponent of the BJP, is asking voters to elect PM Modi in the current general election.

Fact Crescendo received this video with fact-check requests on our WhatsApp Tipline (9049053770).

We found that the widely shared clip is from 2014 when Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena was in alliance with the BJP. It has been shared out of context.

WHAT’S THE CLAIM?

In the short clip, Uddhav Thackeray criticises Congress for its corruption and lauds Modi by saying, “You are not voting for Narendra Modi, instead, you are voting for your future.” 

The caption along with this clip reads – “People, please rightfully follow this Marathi man’s words and vote for Narendra Modi.”

Original Post – Instagram | Archive

FACT-CHECK

Using words from the clip, we found that the viral clip is from a decade-old speech of Uddhav Thackeray. 

Uddhav Thackeray was speaking on April 21, 2014, at a joint campaign rally of Shiv Sena-BJP at BKC ground in Mumbai. 

In the full speech available on YouTube, Thackeray’s comments can be heard from the 11:28-minute mark.

Archive

In 2014, Thackeray’s Shiv Sena and BJP were in alliance and contested the Lok Sabha Election together. 

While campaigning for Narendra Modi’s first term at the center, Thackeray said, “Ask yourself, who should be the face of the nation? If we put away Narendra Modi, what other option do they propose? Does Congress party have any credible and worthy candidate for the prime ministership? They have nobody. Everyone is corrupt there. You are not just giving your vote for Narendra Modi but, in fact, you are voting for your future.” 

Then Prime Minister candidate Narendra Modi, Devendra Fadnavis, and Gopinath Munde were also present on the stage at the time.

Zee 24-Tass also reported on the speech. 

Uddhav Thackeray vs BJP

Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (undivided) and BJP were in alliance for more than 25 years. They separated after the Maharashtra Assembly election in 2019. Since then, Uddhav Thackeray’s group and BJP have been at odds.

CONCLUSION

Hence, it is clear that Uddhav Thackeray did not endorse Narendra Modi for the current general election. The viral video is actually from 2014 when Thackeray was campaigning alongside Modi and is being shared out of context. Thackeray’s statement was made during the time when Shiv Sena and BJP were in alliance, and it does not reflect his stance in the present.

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